The Competition Begins

At 12:50, the warm sunlight of late January shone down upon Tokyo Racecourse, illuminating the Horse Girls as they entered the starting gates one after another.

In the spectator stands facing the track, the voice of a young commentator echoed over the heads of nearly one hundred thousand spectators.

"Entering next is the third favorite for this race, Kitasan Black."

"As a freshman at Central Treisen Academy participating in her debut race right after enrollment, Kitasan Black's high spirits are truly inspiring."

"Her trainer has also just debuted, so this race is not only her debut but his as well."

"What kind of performance will these two newcomers bring us? Let us wait and see."

Following this, another, more mature voice sounded over the broadcast.

"Judging by her training level, Kitasan Black's strength and stamina are quite impressive."

"Compared to the first favorite, Mickey Joy, and the second favorite, Eden, these are her most distinct advantages."

"I hope she can seize the opportunity in the upcoming race and deliver a spectacular performance."

Horse Girl race commentary typically follows this format, usually featuring two commentators.

One is responsible for live play-by-play and building the atmosphere, while the other serves as a guest commentator to provide brief analysis.

After hearing the commentary, the already lively stands reached a small climax, with discussions and inquiries about who would ultimately take home the championship becoming clearly audible.

Standing at the very front of the stands, next to Anjing Zhen, two Horse Girls who looked quite similar were also whispering to each other.

"Elder sister, do you think... Little Kita can win her debut race?"

After Satono Diamond asked with concern, Satono Crown looked troubled for a moment.

"That kind of thing... even if you ask me, Diamond, I have no way of predicting it."

The two sisters had come here to cheer on their friend, though Satono Crown's object of support had competed in an earlier race.

After that race ended, the two of them went to the Preparation Room to specifically encourage Kitasan Black, and then naturally followed Anjing Zhen to the spectator stands.

After her moment of distress, Satono Crown pondered further:

"However, based on my experience, the first favorite, Mickey Joy, does indeed have a greater advantage."

"She signed with her trainer last year and has been preparing for her debut race for two or three months now."

"I've seen her training at the academy, and her performance in all aspects is very stable."

"If there are no other influencing factors, her probability of winning... should be the highest, just as her popularity suggests."

After finishing her assessment, she looked at her worried younger sister and offered comfort:

"But you don't need to worry about Little Kita's performance either."

"I believe her trainer must have considered things more comprehensively than I have."

"That is correct, isn't it, Trainer Yasui?"

She looked toward Anjing Zhen.

Anjing Zhen was currently holding his binoculars, the center of his lens naturally fixed on his own Horse Girl, Kitasan Black.

Her breathing was steady, her complexion healthy, her warm-up was perfectly timed, and there were no issues with her entering the gate.

After a rapid assessment, he looked toward Satono Crown.

"Thank you for your affirmation, Crown."

"That's right, I have indeed made corresponding arrangements for Little Kita based on the actual conditions of this race."

"However, as for the specific details..."

Just as he was about to say there was no time to explain, the commentator's voice over the broadcast rose in pitch.

"Alright, all Horse Girls have finished entering the gates."

In an instant, regardless of etiquette, Anjing Zhen raised his binoculars once more.

Satono Crown's gaze also sharpened, and together with her still-worried sister, she looked toward the direction of the gates.

The commentator continued:

"And so, Tokyo Racecourse, 1800 meters on turf, the debut race..."

"Start!"

Following the loud declaration, the 16 gates on the track swung wide open with a bang.

16 figures shot out like arrows from a bow, all instinctively rushing toward the Inner Lane.

Seeing the scene descend into competition right from the start, the stands erupted, and tens of thousands of spectators burst into cheers in unison.

Holding his binoculars to confirm Kitasan Black's position, Anjing Zhen nodded to himself.

No matter the race, the distance covered on the inner track is undoubtedly shorter, and seizing the Inner Lane early on would certainly provide a greater advantage.

When he was learning from his father in the past, he had visited local racecourses.

To be honest, the level there was indeed quite a bit lower than at the Central level.

For instance, when it came to the awareness of fighting for position early on, many local Horse Girls simply didn't have it.

The results after training were also less than ideal; she didn't even consider her positioning until halfway out of the Start Gate, by which time it was already too late.

However, in this race, every participant was a newcomer with absolutely no prior racing experience.

Yet, without exception, these newcomers chose to fight for position right from the opening phase—a level of quality that the local circuit simply could not compare to.

Kitasan Black's start was also exceptional, perfectly executing the instructions he had given her before the race.

That Black Haired Girl appeared to be fighting for the Inner Lane, but in reality, the moment she cleared the Start Gate, she locked her eyes onto her opponent in the adjacent Gate 6, tailing her closely.

The commentator reported the race situation faithfully.

"A beautiful start, with no errors to speak of.

"In the current opening scramble, the crowd favorite, Mickey Joy, is temporarily in the lead...

"Wait a moment, Cosmic Haven has surged ahead; it is now Cosmic Haven in the lead.

"Mickey Joy is currently in second, followed by the second-most popular runner, Eden.

"The two high-popularity runners are living up to expectations, showing excellent positional awareness right from the start.

"Kitasan Black, the third-most popular runner, has not chosen to join the leading pack.

"She is following closely behind I-H Turbo—is this a marking tactic?"

At this, the color commentator added:

"Debut races rarely involve tactics as complex as marking.

"Judging by Kitasan Black's training performance, her sense of rhythm is quite good; she is likely hoping to use her opponent's stride to adjust in real-time.

"A very clever choice; for a novice, this is one of the most effective tactics."

The commentator continued:

"The pack has passed the front grandstand and is entering the first turn.

"There has been no change in position; the 11th-ranked Cosmic Haven is still in the lead.

"The 1st and 2nd favorites, Mickey Joy and Eden, are following close behind.

"The 3rd favorite, Kitasan Black, is positioned for a Late-run; it seems the tactic her trainer arranged for her is indeed a Late-run."

In the spectator stands, the Satono Sisters, Satono Crown and Satono Diamond, both frowned simultaneously.

"A Late-run... if I remember correctly, Little Kita..."

Exchanging a glance with her younger sister, Satono Crown looked toward Trainer Yasui, hesitating for a moment.

"I remember some trainers saying that Little Kita might be better suited for an Early-run or an Escape...

"A Late-run...

"Trainer Yasui, is this... really suitable for Little Kita?"

Trainer Yasui shifted his gaze from his binoculars for a moment, looked at the Satono Sisters, and smiled.

"Indeed, I also feel that Little Kita is better suited for an Early-run or an Escape.

"However, the pressure of a debut race isn't high, and locking in a running style too early would stifle too many possibilities; I believe it's better to make some bolder arrangements.

"Besides, didn't the trainers you've encountered mention that in the first few races after a debut, it's best to run a bit further back?"